Gov. Bobby Jindal said Thursday resolutions requiring legislative committees to sign off on the privatization of state hospitals are not binding on the administration. The measures, which have been approved by both the House and Senate, call for committees to formally approve deals under which non-profit hospital companies would take over operations of the public hospitals now run by Louisiana State University.

State law requires any plans for leasing the hospitals be presented to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget but does not give the committee the power to vote on those deals.

"If they propose changes to the law, we'll look at that legislation," Jindal said during a meeting with reporters Thursday morning. "I haven't seen a bill that would change the law, but what I'll tell you is we'll continue to comply with the law. The law requires us to go there, to the committee, to present we'll continue to do that."

The House passed a similar resolution by Rep. Jared Brossett, D-New Orleans, on Wednesday. That resolution, which passed 69-28, calls for the Joint Legislative Committee on the budget to agree before the deal is finalized. Brossett's bill, House Concurrent Resolution 74, now heads to the Senate.

Jindal also touted the deals as benefiting health care in the state and said the deals were necessary because of reductions last year in the federal reimbursement rate for the state's Medicaid spending.

"I'd also say to folks who are trying to slow down this process to make sure they have an alternative," he said.

The governor also continued his opposition to an expansion of the state's Medicaid program that would be allowed by the Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare. Several lawmakers have filed bills this session that would attempt to force the state to accept that expansion.

Jindal also reiterated his pledge to veto any tax bills that increase the amount of revenue the state brings in, including a measure that would impose a 2-cent tax on cell phone bills in exchange for a reduction in the 5-cent tax on land lines. Jindal said he is working with Rep. Patrick Williams, D-Shreveport, on alternatives to that measure, which would be used to find a more stable funding source for telecommunications devices for the deaf.